Hunger strikers demand chance at organ transplantsChicago TribuneFourteen people in need of kidney and liver transplants, along with family and friends, have been on a weeklong hunger strike, demanding a spot on a transplant waiting list, which they say they've been denied.
The men and women protested outside Northwestern Memorial Hospital, some taking long breaks for dialysis. They said they've been denied a spot on the list because of their illegal residency in the country.

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Early bird rate ends 19 AugustITNSThe early bird deadline and your chance to save $50 is less than two weeks away. You don't want to miss everything the symposium and Washington, D.C., USA has to offer! This year's symposium is packed with more exciting events and thought-provoking educational sessions than ever before! View the symposium brochure for the full schedule and register today!

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Larger lungs linked to higher transplant survivalRTT NewsLung transplant patients receiving large lungs have a better survival rate than those getting smaller lungs, according to a study published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. However, the method of matching lung size between patient and donor may not be optimal as researchers at John Hopkins looked at data from 4,520 double lung transplants and 2,477 single lung transplants performed in the U.S. between 2005 and 2010.

GHs contribute 22 percent to organ transplant poolThe HinduWhen it comes to cadaveric organ donations, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and Government Stanley Hospital are showing the way. With an 11 percent share each, these hospitals are contributing significantly to the organ pool, say hospital authorities.

Seanad likely to be recalled to discuss law on organ donationThe Irish TimesThe Seanad is likely to be recalled from holidays before the end of this month to discuss the law on organ donation which is covered by an EU directive.
Fianna Fáil senator Mark Daly has secured the signatures of one third of the Seanad members supporting his campaign for a recall.

Doctors: Holby City 'scared off organ donors'BBC NewsBBC drama Holby City has been accused of scaring off organ donors.
A recent episode depicted a mother's struggle to decide whether her brain-dead daughter should donate her heart.
In one scene, she saw the operation in progress, despite withdrawing consent.
NHS Blood and Transplant said several potential donors had asked to be removed from the register as a result.

Girl who underwent lung transplants takes steps toward recoveryCNN via KETK-TVSarah Murnaghan, the 10-year-old girl whose quest for a lung transplant prompted a change in national policy, is up and walking.
"Sarah walked 10 feet with her walker for the first time, actually made it out of the room!" her mother, Janet Murnaghan, posted Tuesday on Facebook.
The girl was helped by a physical therapist. The family's hope is that Sarah will soon be able to walk on her own — something Janet Murnaghan has said she sees as the last major obstacle to leaving the hospital.

Organ Donation Day: Hundreds die in India for lack of organsHealth.India.comAccording to M. C. Misra, chief of the Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the donor scene in India is still very "dismal" despite amendments to a law which the government passed in 2008. The amendments to the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, were passed following the unearthing of a thriving kidney donation racket in northern India.

Exercise may reduce heart disease risk in liver transplant recipientsMedical XpressNew research reveals that metabolic syndrome — risk factors that can lead to heart disease and/or stroke — is common in liver transplant recipients, with rates highest at one year following the procedure. Findings published in Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society, indicate that exercise could reduce complications from metabolic disease in patients post-transplantation.

Would you accept an organ donation from a criminal?WUOM-FMA study from the University of Michigan suggests that people won't accept organ donations or blood transfusions from donors who are criminals.
The study's lead author is Meredith Meyer. She is a research fellow in the University of Michigan's Psychology Department. The study was published in the Journal of Cognitive Science.